Zombies, Inc.

Hilarious, heartfelt, and original! With an incredibly talented Star and unexpected storyline, Zombies, Inc. is a truly morbid and joyous show. Cheers to the team who brought it to the stage!

Damon Pitcher gives a deadly and commanding performance in this epic solo show about finding success in a world that wants to eat you alive. Featuring a pop/rock score of the highest order, this is easily the most professional musical mix and pristine mastering I have heard on any Fringe stage. There are a lot of musical offerings at the festival this year, but this one has to have the slickest music producing on the scene. (My sensitive ears were extremely pleased.)

Pitcher deserves praise for holding it all together and for lifting the material up so effortlessly. Zombies, Inc. is a single-performer musical, and that is no light load to carry. Cabarets are one thing, but I can’t think of another fully produced musical that fits this particular mould. While the audience is part of his world (we are discovered as a band of survivors), there’s no backup singers or live band in sight. As the story draws us in and we forget ourselves, it can feel like he might actually be the last man on earth.

As a lover of musicals, I did question (at first) whether or not this story ‘needed’ to be a musical. But as the events unfurled into the apocalypse and our hero’s heart grew heavier, that question never again crossed my mind. There was humour, emotional devastation and a couple of left-hand turns that made my jaw drop.

For accessibility: Be aware that the theatre at Strathcona High School is up a few flights of stairs, and that all of the seating banks are composed of plastic folding chairs. Larger bodied patrons, those with mobility devices, and those burdened by seats creaking/squeaking may wish to consider their comfort level before attending.

I’ve seen my share of one-person shows at the Fringe, and honestly, they don’t always land. Zombies, Inc. is different—it’s tight, funny, and surprisingly moving. Damon Pitcher has the kind of stage presence that makes you forget he’s the only one up there. The music is fantastic (I’ve already got a couple of songs stuck in my head), and the story manages to balance humor with some sharp little truths about ambition and survival. The design is simple but clever, and the sound effects really sell the world. You can tell director Devanand Janki shaped the whole piece with care. And hats off to the writers Marcus Perkins Bejarano and Kim Jinhyoung. what an exciting team to watch in the musical theatre world. This is exactly the kind of show I come to Fringe for: something fresh, original, and buzzing with talent.

Damon Pitcher is an extraordinary talent—what a brilliant singer and actor. this is my 17th Fringe , and this performance really struck me as something special. I honestly can’t wait to see much more of him on Edmonton stages. Also, it’s so exciting to discover new voices in the musical theatre scene—Marcus Perkins Bejarano and Kim Jinhyoung are ones to watch. The show sounded fantastic, and the simple but effective design—lights, set, costumes—was perfect for this little gem. Director Devanand Janki clearly guided and shaped it into something terrific. Congrats to the entire team!

I’ve been to so many Fringes over the years and this one really stood out. A little gem, unassuming but highly entertaining, and perfect for a wide audience. The title’s a bit misleading, it’s not really about zombies, at least not in the usual way, which actually makes it even better. So glad I caught the birth of this show: slick, smart, top-notch work with a stellar lead performance, simple but effective design, great sound effects, sharp direction, and amazing songs. I hope it plays every Fringe across the country and the world!

Zombies, Inc is an absolute delight! it is funny, fun, original, wonderfully tuneful, and a one-man tour de force from actor Damon Pitcher. His star must be on the rise. I look forward to watching where his career takes him with work of this caliber.

Of course, no one man-tour de force ever really comes from just one man-so equally the credit must also go to the wonderful writing of Marcus Perkins Bejarano and Kim Jinhyoung. And especially I must point out the excellent direction of Dev Janki. He has created and shaped a world that allows this piece and this actor to shine the way they do. Bravo!

Zombies, Inc has the standard easily of an off-broadway show in NYC. The show has the lovely oddball originality of being a fringe show, while also raising the level in terms of how it moves and feels and is presented. Congrats to all involved! Do not miss Zombies, Inc!

Had such a great time and want to see it again! Do not miss it if you have the chance!

Zombies, Inc. Incredible one person performance with so much depth that it felt like there was a whole crew of live characters. Definite must-see! And so funny!!! I loved this and will go again!

Such a fun show! I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but wow—one-person shows never feel this dynamic and full. Somehow it felt like a whole company up there. Comedy, adventure, thriller, even horror—it’s all packed in. Loved the flying body parts, and the songs are total earworms—still stuck in my head. So many wild surprises I don’t want to spoil. Don’t miss this one!

Brilliant writing, wonderful direction, and an overall great time in the theatre…see it again and again. Show your Undying Love for this show (iykyk)!

Fantastic! Really well executed; an amazing job done by everyone involved. Shoutout to Dev Janki for directing another great show!

Man, Zombies, Inc. blew me away. Hilarious. Great music, sharp writing, and seriously—how did that actor pull this off?? Top notch direction too. Can’t wait to see where this one goes!

Okay, so I’m not a regular theatre person at all, but holy crap this show was awesome. I went with my girlfriend who’s visiting from the UK and we were both crying laughing the whole time. It’s so funny, so smart, and it just works without needing anything fancy—super simple but totally effective.

This feels like the kind of show that could play anywhere in the world and people would eat it up. I can totally see it having a long, long life. Honestly, it was one of those nights where you walk out grinning ear to ear and already want to see it again.

Amazing production! Exceptional set! This is the kind of gem you hope to stumble across at the fringe: inventive, fun, and impossible not to cheer for.

Such a well produced show. Kiddo’s to Dev Janki for such insight and creativity!! For a one man show it was entertaining for the 80 minutes and time flew by as I was fully involved and captured!!

Well, there was a silver lining for our cancelled fights! We were looking for something to do. We didn’t know what to expect and WOW were we surprised! It was GREAT!!! This was the funniest show! I wish we lived in town so we could go again. ITS A MUST SEE!

Never thought I’d be a fan of the Zombies but I’m in love!!! Run don’t walk to this show, you will love it!!

Hilarious and fun! Such a unique show with witty text and sharp direction. The most exciting one-person show I’ve seen!

I loved this show! It has everything: humor, irony, pathos. Damon Pitcher is an outstanding performer. To carry a 75-minute one-man show so effortlessly attests to a huge talent. Kudos to the team who put the production together! I recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy an hour of entertainment.

If you think you’ve seen every spin on the zombie apocalypse, think again. Zombies Inc. isn’t just another undead romp; it’s a one-man spectacle that’s equal parts hilarious, harrowing, and human.

Director Dev Janki turns this ambitious solo show into a fully realized universe. Edmonton should not only celebrate this production, it should give this guy a key to the city.

In this world premier musical, the anti-hero (Ray) creeps his way into your heart with every gorgeous note sung. This solo show starring Damon Pitcher captivates the audience for the full 80 minutes-which, incidentally, fly by. Stunning direction by former Edmontonian Devanand Janki (now of NYC) who envisioned an apocalyptic world for Damon to breathe life into every corner of Zombie filled New York City. Laugh out loud funny, the show also contains songs that you will be humming for days. I am excited to see what other shows the team of Marcus Perkins Bejarano and Kim Jinhyoung bring to the theatre scene.

Zombies, Inc. is a show that brings a unique blend of irreverent humor, authenticity, and powerful themes to the stage in the unlikeliest of packages: a one-man musical comedy! From the second that Edmonton's own Damon Pitcher takes the stage, you'll be amazed at how he captures our imaginations and carries the vocals in a demanding and diverse score that features pop, rock, and musical comedy tunes. Though the zombie virus is contained to the stage, the same can't be said for the infectious ear-worms that you'll be sure to be singing on the way home after the show!

All in all, I can't say enough good things about the score, the direction, and the star performance in this show. I highly recommend it to any Fringe-goers who love musical comedy and want to have a great time!

Damon Pitcher is an amazing storyteller that led us through Ray's life throughout a zombie apocalypse. The show is so much fun. Recommending people to go give it a chance and see it.

A one-man musical about the Zombie apocalypse is an ambitious premise.

And this show has every ounce of potential to be a phenomenal show, but for me it falls short.

The good here: there's a lot of really good music and Damon Pitcher gives 100% in playing every character in the show. He nails the songs, he's a charismatic performer and it feels like he "fills" the space even though he's just one dude. There are some very funny bits and physical comedy.

But there are couple key ways the show falls short. The first is that despite Damon's charismatic performer, the protagonist of this show behaves deeply unlikably in almost every instance. But the show doesn't seem to acknowledge that or play him as an anti-hero. It feels like we're supposed to root for a guy who frankly, sucks.

Most of the show is spent with our protagonist complaining about how everyone else in his life is an asshole. And we all know the adage about when "everyone else is the asshole".

This extends to the plot as well. Most of the play we're supposed to be rooting for the protagonist to get into the good books for a stand-in for Jeff Bezos/Elon Musk, while he neglects his wife, family and responsibilities. A lot of time is spent on this premise (that could be spent on more interesting things, like a Zombie apocalypse)

When the hero succeeds or there's a big number to celebrate it, I found it very hard to get excited because, and I cannot stress this enough, the hero really sucks.

It's a crying shame too, there's some really good numbers that could be slotted into a very good show with minimal changes to the music. Flow/Renaissance is a certified bop, and De-Zombified definitely works as a finale number. As I was biking home I was imagining all the ways you could slot those songs into a rewritten show and they'd be absolutely killer.

So, this one isn't for me this year. But with rewrites, a few more test audiences (and probably 20 minutes trimmed off the runtime!) this could be a great show someday.

Zombies inc. is not what I expected, but in a good way! The show was a hilarious musical with some of the most catchy songs and executed in a way that kept the audience fully immersed in the story and rooting for Ray! I will forever be unified til I die with this musical 😉

"There’s a certain crazy, irresistible improbability about Zombies, Inc.. And it’s not the zombies...." Check out the full 12thnight REVIEW

I really enjoyed the off broadway feel that I definitely expected with this show from NYC, but I did expect it to be much more about battling zombies than telling the rise and fall of the main character’s life. The music and lyrics were great. Vocals mostly hit the mark. Was not as dark as I hoped it would be.

Zombies Inc. - “The only musical where zombies have jazz hands” By: Krissy Berkholtz

If the apocalypse comes at the expense of angelic vocals…then call me undead! "Zombies Inc." is a fantastically rhythmic and comedic one man musical that explores one’s own humanity as the world’s humanity is lost. "Zombies Inc." can only be best described as the love child between Broadway and The Walking Dead. The entire performance was astonishingly hilarious with admirable vulnerability scattered throughout, giving more insight into the inner workings of the main character, Ray, thanks to co-writers Marcus Perkins Bejarano and Kim Jinhyoung. Damon Pitcher, who played the main role of Ray, did the comical writing justice, blowing the entire audience out of the water. With songs like “A Diamond in the Rough” and “Undying Love”, Damon Pitcher immediately shined as bright as a gem, making sure everyone’s eyes were transfixed on him. The set was elaborately shaped and draped with colour and mystery in every corner of the room, setting the tone when you first walk in the theatre with the spectacular lighting design, complimented by the eerie sounds of groaning from the undead. The space may have felt unsafe, but simultaneously intriguing! "Zombies Inc." is a show stopper of a performance that incorporates you into the post apocalyptic world of New York City. Making you ask yourself the question; “what am I willing to lose for my dreams?” So before you go to the theatre- count how many fingers you enter with and pray the undead won’t want your brain, but either way get ready to watch the wild ride that is "Zombies Inc." "Zombies Inc." runs from August 17th-23rd.